Full Breakdown
South Korea's Climate Commitment: Balancing Coal Reduction and LNG Imports
12/29/2025, 11:34:36 AM
Ambitious Climate Goals Amidst Energy Trade Deals
South Korea has committed to reducing its reliance on coal power as part of a broader initiative to cut carbon emissions, pledging to retire most coal-fired power plants by 2040 and halve carbon emissions by 2035. This announcement was made by Kim Sung-hwan, the inaugural head of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, during the U.N. climate talks in Belem, Brazil, on November 17, 2025. However, this commitment is complicated by the South Korean government's negotiations to increase imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of trade agreements with the Trump administration.
The Conflict Between Climate Goals and LNG Imports
While South Korea aims to cut carbon emissions by 53% to 61% from 2018 levels, this target has faced criticism for being insufficient. Business lobbies had suggested a lower target of 48%. The government's dual approach reflects conflicting priorities between economic growth and climate responsibility. As part of its trade deal with the U.S., South Korea is negotiating to import between 3 million to 9 million tons of American LNG annually, which constituted nearly 20% of its energy supply last year. Critics, including Insung Lee from Greenpeace, argue that merely replacing coal with LNG does not constitute a genuine transition to renewable energy and could undermine climate objectives.
Renewable Energy Transition and Current Energy Mix
In 2022, renewable energy accounted for only 10.5% of South Korea's domestic power generation, significantly lower than other major economies like Japan and Spain. The South Korean government has set a goal to increase offshore wind power capacity to 4 gigawatts, a tenfold increase from current levels. Nuclear energy, which made up 31% of the country's electricity generation last year, is also part of the strategy to phase out coal. Kim Sung-hwan emphasized that LNG would serve as a "complementary or emergency energy source" to support the transition to renewables.
Criticism and Concerns from Environmental Advocates
Environmental activists have expressed concerns that the planned increase in LNG imports could lock South Korea into a fossil fuel-dependent future. Michelle Kim from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlighted the risks associated with high fossil fuel dependency, urging South Korea to accelerate its renewable energy deployment. The potential oversupply of LNG could lead to increased emissions, contradicting the spirit of the country's climate commitments.
Official Statements and Future Outlook
Kim Sung-hwan reiterated South Korea's commitment to transitioning to a new energy system focused on renewables and nuclear power while phasing out coal. The country has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, signaling its intention to move away from fossil fuels. However, the effectiveness of these commitments remains to be seen, particularly in light of ongoing negotiations with the U.S. and the potential implications for regional coal markets.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As the global temperature rises, we all need to responsibly take climate action and Korea will have a stronger sense of responsibility in tackling the climate crisis,” — Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment
- “If we just replace coal plants with LNG, that means the coal exit actually doesn’t lead to a green transition and merely shifts Korea’s addiction from coal to gas, which undermines the whole spirit of climate action,” — Insung Lee, Greenpeace
- “South Korea needs to speed up renewable energy deployment and come out from high dependency on the fossil fuel industry.” — Michelle Kim, IEEFA
- “One of the biggest importers in the world, one of the biggest customers, is starting to move away from coal.” — James Bowen, Climate Analytics
